Lithariapteryx abroniaeella - Hodges#2510
Lithariapteryx abroniaeella
This record describes Lithariapteryx abroniaeella (species). Recorded family: Heliodinidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Wikipedia reference for Lithariapteryx abroniaeella: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lithariapteryx_abroniaeella.
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Yponomeutoidea
- Family
- Heliodinidae (Sun Moths)
- Genus
- Lithariapteryx
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Habitat
Sandy arid, riverine, and seacoast dunes (Powell, 1991).
Geographic Range
Colorado, Utah, Idaho, New Mexico, Arizona, and deserts of California (Powell, 1991).
Diet and Behavior
Diet: Larval hosts are species of sand verbena ( Abronia ) and four o'clock ( Mirabilis ) (Powell, 2009).
Additional species information
Species notes from the sources
Etymology: Lithariapteryx abroniaeella Chambers, 1876 * phylogenetic sequence #078650
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Lithariapteryx abroniaeella. Species-specific details appear above.
Group overview
Lepidoptera includes approximately 180,000 described species of butterflies and moths. Moths outnumber butterflies roughly 10:1. The monarch butterfly's eastern population has declined by more than 80% since the mid-1990s, and the western population by over 95% since the 1980s. The IUCN lists the migratory monarch as Vulnerable.
Ecological role of the group
Butterflies and moths are essential indicators of ecosystem health. As caterpillars, they are a primary food source for birds - a single nest of blue tit chicks requires ~10,000 caterpillars. Adult moths pollinate many night-blooming plants.
Economic and practical significance of the group
Lepidoptera are critical pollinators. In Europe, grassland butterfly species have declined by almost 50% since the early 1990s. In the UK, three-quarters of butterflies are in decline. In the U.S., five butterfly species have gone extinct since 1950, with 29 listed as endangered.
Recorded sources for this group: IUCN Red List, Xerces Society, USFWS, PNAS, WWF. Imported estimates may describe particular regions or reporting periods.
Photos of Lithariapteryx abroniaeella - Hodges#2510 (3)
Photo credits: Contributed by Charley Eiseman; Additional contributions by Randy Hardy
Frequently Asked Questions About Lithariapteryx abroniaeella - Hodges#2510
How big is Lithariapteryx abroniaeella - Hodges#2510?
Forewing length 2.8-5 mm (Powell, 1991).
Where is Lithariapteryx abroniaeella - Hodges#2510 found?
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Habitat | Sandy arid, riverine, and seacoast dunes (Powell, 1991). |
| Range | Colorado, Utah, Idaho, New Mexico, Arizona, and deserts of California (Powell, 1991). |
What does Lithariapteryx abroniaeella - Hodges#2510 eat?
The diet of the Lithariapteryx abroniaeella - Hodges#2510 includes Larval hosts are species of sand verbena ( Abronia ) and four o'clock ( Mirabilis ) (Powell, 2009)..